Known to set the hearts of many of the world's top footballers aflutter, the anthem mixes elements from the three official UEFA languages: English, French and German and accompanies the ceremony at the start of all games in the competition, and is also played in the opening and closing sequences of all UEFA Champions League broadcasts.
The music, which cannot be bought or legally downloaded from any website, was written by British composer Tony Britten, a graduate of the Royal College of Music. Commissioned in 1992 to devise a piece in the style of George Frideric Handel, the iconic recording of Britten's piece is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and sung by the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields Chorus. The lyrics mix elements from the three official UEFA languages: English, French and German.
Ce sont les meilleures équipes
Es sind die allerbesten Mannschaften
The main event
Die Meister
Die Besten
Les grandes équipes
The champions
Une grande réunion
Eine grosse sportliche Veranstaltung
The main event
Die Meister
Die Besten
Les grandes équipes
The champions
Ils sont les meilleurs
Sie sind die Besten
These are the champions
Die Meister
Die Besten
Les grandes équipes
The champions
© The Music Agency 1992
